NAVIGATION
Learning to find your way Alison Bennett reports her experiences on a fell running navigation course
W
hen considering fell running events where navigation with map and compass are required,
I take one of three options: reccy the route with someone and rely on their knowledge, hope for a big entry field and follow those in front, or don’t enter the race. Feeling a little ashamed to be so reliant on other more experienced people I signed up for the Fell Runner’s Association Basic Navigation Course. Andrew, with less enthusiasm decided to join me. We arrived at Kettlewell Youth Hostel, on Friday evening, were allocated bunk beds and met the other thirty or so participants among who was the welcome sight of Sharon Meadows with two cycling friends, who like Andrew were wondering what they were doing there. Following a short talk on the aims of the course and an introduction to the ten experienced group leaders, we were placed in groups of three or four for our first classroom based activity before heading down to the pub (not much navigation required there). After a night in a room full of very creaky beds it was something of a relief to get up for a 6.45am chug up Great Whernside, followed by a hearty breakfast. The next hours were spent in our small groups on the moor above Kettlewell receiving instruction from patient and informed leaders. Each of us was given small navigation tasks to develop our skills. This built confidence and was more about accurate navigation than speed, with more walking than running. In the afternoon we began our first short solo navigation exercise. Andrew and I set off at the same time to find the same controls, but in a different order. The leaders were camouflage experts as they managed to
ILKLEY HARRIERS NEWSLETTER • APRIL–JUNE 2010
observe us but only appeared if we were clearly way off course. I scampered round the controls only to find a gleeful Andrew waiting for me at the finish. We returned to the Youth Hostel for showers, indoor instruction and dinner, after which we were soon donning head torches for a night exercise navigating in pairs. I had imagined this course would be in a gentle field but soon found myself scrabbling up paths, small crags and across tussocks of moor again. After a few miscalculations I had an idea that my partner and I could be bringing up the rear and this was confirmed when on reaching the last checkpoint a leader appeared and suggested I could now collect the control marker. We were last. By the time we reached the YH for the final dib, Andrew was showered and eager to reach the pub before last orders … strange how those bunks didn’t creak so much that night! After a solid sleep a group, of noticeably reduced numbers, made the 6.45am run, a voluntary session which retraced the night navigation course.
The highlight of the second day was
the 10K (or potentially much longer) solo navigation exercise. We were given grid references and released to find them with our new found skills. The day was overcast and after a climb to the first checkpoint we were enveloped in thick mist. Perfect. With trepidation and excitement I challenged myself to recall information received, trust my judgement and my compass. For some, navigation on the fells seems second nature but if you want to learn more, get booked on a course. It’s excellent value and we’d certainly recommend it although Sharon may well have a shorter Christmas card list this year!
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